Distribution of energy is a growing problem; RPI Professor David Borton shows off his self-sufficient home (bottom right).
One of the most underestimated problems with America’s electricity supply right now is the inefficiency of its transmission. If one thinks about the transmission of power over great distances, one is likely to realize that there must be some losses along the way. However, most people do not realize the magnitude of the problem, and how much it costs every year. There is a surprising lack of information in the public discourse on the topic of energy transmission and distribution.
Currently, losses in the electric grid account for approximately 7% of all electricity produced in the United States,[i] or 277 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009.[ii] This accounts for approximately $27.4 billion of waste at current prices,[iii] a sum approximately equal to the combined revenues of the two largest electricity suppliers in the country.[iv],[v]
It is well known that the United States population is highly concentrated along the east and west coasts. While there is now an abundant supply of coal-fired electricity near the east coast and oil throughout the Gulf of Mexico, these reserves will not last indefinitely. Coal production by volume will continue to increase for years to come, but because of the declining energy density of the coal that is mined, the Energy Watch Group estimates that the amount of coal energy produced peaked in the early 2000s.[vi]
As America moves away from fossil fuel and toward clean energy sources such as wind and solar, electricity will need to be distributed over longer distances. Wind power is concentrated throughout the Midwest, with the highest average speeds stretching from North Dakota and Montana southward throughout Texas.[vii] Solar power is most readily available in the American southwest.[viii]
What does all of this mean? Electricity sources will be moving farther away from where people are currently living, and transmission and distribution will become a much larger issue than it is today.
The first step in mitigating the problems that arise from transmission and distribution is to create more efficient transmission lines. Some utilities have begun laying superconducting cables for power distribution,[ix] which have less than half the losses of conventional cables and cost approximately half as much per unit energy transferred.[x] Because of the added efficiency, load balancing over long distances will be possible; if the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing to provide power in one area, power can be taken from other areas with greatly decreased losses.
In addition to improved distribution, encouraging private energy production—particularly solar energy—will mean far greater efficiency in America’s electricity supply. With the decreasing cost of photovoltaic (PV) cells, it is becoming more economical for the average person to invest in private solar energy. While solar energy is concentrated throughout the southwest, it is easily possible in other regions to produce more electricity than is consumed in one’s home. RPI’s own Professor David Borton’s home uses a net negative amount of electricity in an average year, and the costs of making his home solar-powered have been more than recouped through energy savings and feeding electricity back into the grid.[xi]
Finally, simply moving people closer to energy sources is the most obvious—and perhaps most difficult—change that can be made to increase the efficiency of America’s electricity supply. Historically, population centers have tended to be along ocean coasts and major rivers. However, with continually-advancing transportation technology, people have been able to move away from the coast without being restricted in their movements. This could be encouraged further by the establishment of a high-speed rail system in the United States, allowing fast and inexpensive transport.
Distribution of energy is a growing problem; RPI Professor David Borton shows off his self-sufficient home (bottom right).
One of the most underestimated problems with America’s electricity supply right now is the inefficiency of its transmission. If one thinks about the transmission of power over great distances, one is likely to realize that there must be some losses along the way. However, most people do not realize the magnitude of the problem, and how much it costs every year. There is a surprising lack of information in the public discourse on the topic of energy transmission and distribution.
Currently, losses in the electric grid account for approximately 7% of all electricity produced in the United States,[i] or 277 billion kilowatt-hours in 2009.[ii] This accounts for approximately $27.4 billion of waste at current prices,[iii] a sum approximately equal to the combined revenues of the two largest electricity suppliers in the country.[iv],[v]
It is well known that the United States population is highly concentrated along the east and west coasts. While there is now an abundant supply of coal-fired electricity near the east coast and oil throughout the Gulf of Mexico, these reserves will not last indefinitely. Coal production by volume will continue to increase for years to come, but because of the declining energy density of the coal that is mined, the Energy Watch Group estimates that the amount of coal energy produced peaked in the early 2000s.[vi]
As America moves away from fossil fuel and toward clean energy sources such as wind and solar, electricity will need to be distributed over longer distances. Wind power is concentrated throughout the Midwest, with the highest average speeds stretching from North Dakota and Montana southward throughout Texas.[vii] Solar power is most readily available in the American southwest.[viii]
What does all of this mean? Electricity sources will be moving farther away from where people are currently living, and transmission and distribution will become a much larger issue than it is today.
The first step in mitigating the problems that arise from transmission and distribution is to create more efficient transmission lines. Some utilities have begun laying superconducting cables for power distribution,[ix] which have less than half the losses of conventional cables and cost approximately half as much per unit energy transferred.[x] Because of the added efficiency, load balancing over long distances will be possible; if the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing to provide power in one area, power can be taken from other areas with greatly decreased losses.
In addition to improved distribution, encouraging private energy production—particularly solar energy—will mean far greater efficiency in America’s electricity supply. With the decreasing cost of photovoltaic (PV) cells, it is becoming more economical for the average person to invest in private solar energy. While solar energy is concentrated throughout the southwest, it is easily possible in other regions to produce more electricity than is consumed in one’s home. RPI’s own Professor David Borton’s home uses a net negative amount of electricity in an average year, and the costs of making his home solar-powered have been more than recouped through energy savings and feeding electricity back into the grid.[xi]
Finally, simply moving people closer to energy sources is the most obvious—and perhaps most difficult—change that can be made to increase the efficiency of America’s electricity supply. Historically, population centers have tended to be along ocean coasts and major rivers. However, with continually-advancing transportation technology, people have been able to move away from the coast without being restricted in their movements. This could be encouraged further by the establishment of a high-speed rail system in the United States, allowing fast and inexpensive transport.
Sources:
[i] Hutchinson, A. “10 Fixes.” Popular Mechanics Jun 2011: 69.
[ii] N.A. “The CIA World Factbook.” Central Intelligence Agency 7 Nov 2011. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html>
[iii] N.A. “Electricity Explained: Factors Affecting Electricity Prices.” Energy Information Administration 28 Jul 2011. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_factors_affecting_prices>
[iv] N.A. “Edison International (EIX).” Wikinvest 30 Aug 2010. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Southern_California_Edison_(SCEDM)>
[v] N.A. “Pacific Gas & Electric (PCG).” Wikinvest 16 Dec 2010. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.wikinvest.com/wiki/PG%26E>
[vi] N.A. “Coal: Resources and Future Production.” Energy Watch Group 28 Mar 2007. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.energywatchgroup.org/fileadmin/global/pdf/EWG_Report_Coal_10-07-2007ms.pdf>
[vii] N.A. “U.S. Wind Resources Map.” Wind Powering America 19 Oct 2011. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps_none.asp>
[viii] N.A. “Solar Maps.” National Renewable Energy Labs 20 May 2011. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.nrel.gov/gis/solar.html>
[ix] N.A. “Superconducting Power Line to Shore Up New York Grid.” New Scientist 22 May 2007. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11907-superconducting-power-line-to-shore-up-new-york-grid.html>
[x] Bullis, Kevin. “Superconductors to Wire a Smarter Grid.” MIT Technology Review 12 Nov 2009. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/23928/>
[xi] Borton, David. “Solar Devices & Renewable Energy Lecture.” Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Jan-May 2011. Class lectures.
Image Sources (c
lockwise,from top left):N.A. “US Population Density Map” image. MapofUSA.net. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://www.mapofusa.net/us-population-density-map.htm>
N.A. “Electric Grid Transmission Tower” photo. University of Minnesota Technical Leadership Institute Blog 10 Aug 2010. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://tli.umn.edu/blog/security-technology/u-s-electricity-blackouts-skyrocket-cnn-com/>
Borton, D. “David Borton and Marley with Solar Home” photo. David Borton’s RPI Homepage Jan 2010. Retrieved 10 Nov 2011 <http://homepages.rpi.edu/~bortond/>
N.A. “United States – Annual Average Wind Speed at 80 m” image. U.S. Department of Energy; Wind Powering America 19 Oct 2011 <http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps_none.asp>